San Luis Valley views, and Mountain Snows.

Geraint December 29, 2021 21 Comments

Greetings from the San Luis Valley.

Here’s the tree I promised in last week’s post. I headed north in a dust storm. Inclement weather could be my middle name. What the dust afforded me besides spots on my sensor was a slight separation of the tree and mountain. The sky in this image of the lone tree was unexpected. The tree had lost a small limb since my previous trip. I didn’t mind. It cleaned up the composition. (Click on images to enlarge).

Ute Mountain tree — Ute Mountain lone tree, San Luis Valley, CO.

The dust created a nice veil of diffuse light so the poles and trees stood out. I’d not seen them so prominent before.

Power poles with Ute Mountain — Ute Mountain with power poles and a big sky.

In the following photo, you can see the dust storm is more apparent. The trees really stood out against Ute Mountain like guardians.

Ute Mountain trees with San Luis Valley dust storm.

Heading home a little later the wind at Sanchez Reservoir was so strong. When I stopped to shoot the ice on the shoreline I could barely open the car door. I got out and made a few so-so images then had to jump back in the car and get my legs in fast before the door slammed shut on my ankles. Did I say how cold the wind chill was? I wish I’d looked. All I can say is it was cold!!!

I knew I wanted to catch the light on the fresh snow on the peaks in the Latir Peaks Wilderness, so I headed in that direction. I’ve done this shot before almost to the day. I wasn’t disappointed this time either. The wind had subsided but the cold remained. So I parked with a view and rested the camera on the open window. With the heat on and music playing, I was comfy and waited. The last bit of light through the clouds caught Cabresto Peak just right. In the second image below, I zoomed in for a close-up.

Wide view of Cabresto Peak, Latir Peaks Wilderness, NM — Wide view of snow on Cabresto Peak, in the Latir Peaks Wilderness, NM.

Cabresto Peak, Latir Peaks Wilderness, NM — A little closer in on Cabresto Peak..

… And a couple of my favorite images of Taos Mountain. The first shot is from the Ranchos Valley with an acequia (irrigation ditch), red willows, and snow-capped peaks of Taos Mountain.

Taos Mountain red willows and snow, Ranchos de Taos, NM.

This image of Taos Mountain was when it was bathed in the last glow of sunlight through the letterbox opening in the clouds.

Taos Mountain winter light. — Taos Mountain with winter sunset light.

Phew, we made it another year. As always thanks for looking, happy new year. G

Snow, Cattle Guard, Osprey, Elk, RV, Road G, Chile Trompe l’oeil

Geraint May 5, 2021 18 Comments

Some shots around the extended neighborhood these last couple of weeks. Still a lot of snow in the high country and a brightly colored cattle guard glowing like Kodachrome® yellow. An Osprey with a half-eaten fish on a fence post in the Chama Valley followed by an elk skull and antlers with a backdrop of San Antonio Mountain and great sky over the Volcanic Plateau. A few days ago we cruised north into the San Luis Valley and found an RV standing alone under a brooding sky and the Road G intersection with Road 7 looking north towards Blanca Peak and south to Ute Mountain. Last but not least on a photo tour/workshop two weeks ago, Chile Trompe l’oeil in Costilla and El Rito, NM. Thanks for checking in and looking and for all the great comments, emails, and compliments. G

High Country Snow fence — High country snow and fence near Hopewell Lake, NM.

Cattle Guard, Kodachrome Yellow — Cattle Guard, thoughts of Kodachrome come to mind.

Osprey Chama NM — Osprey on a fence post with half eaten fish in Chama, NM.

Elk head antlers — Elk head, antlers with San Antonio Mountain in the Taos Volcanic Plateau.

Road G San Luis Valley looking north — Road G in the San Luis Valley looking north to Blanca Peak.

Road G San Luis Valley Ute Mountain — Road G in the San Luis Valley looking south to Ute Mountain.

Blue door with chile Trompe l'oeil in Costilla, NM — Blue door with red chile ristras Trompe l’oeil in Costilla, NM.

Painted Chiles — Painted chiles on El Farolito Restaurant in El Rito, NM

Wolf Moon Rising, Setting, Northern New Mexico.

Geraint February 3, 2021 8 Comments

Last week was the full Wolf Moon. It has many other names such as “Canada Goose Moon”, “Greetings Moon”, and a favorite alternative of mine, “Frost Exploding Moon”.
In this case, I’ll stick to calling it wolf moon as it is known around these parts. You can read more here.
On the night before the actual full moon, I met up with my friend John and set up, with plenty of time to spare, in order to be ready. When the moon rose behind the Northern New Mexico, Vallecito Mountain the light was still a little pale and not so dramatic, so we headed east and closer to the mountains to catch it rising over the exact same peak. On the night before the actual full moon, the landscape is bathed in the light of the setting sun as the moon, discernibly full rises in the scene making for a well-balanced exposure. We made some nice images that evening.

Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain, Northern New Mexico.

The Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain with the area known as Des Montes. — The Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain with the community of Des Montes.

I wasn’t done with the Wolf Moon yet so the following morning I got up early and drove about thirty minutes north near the Colorado State Line to watch it set around Ute Mountain and across the plateau.

Ute Mountain, a tree, with the Wolf Moon setting. — Ute Mountain tree with the Wolf Moon setting, Northern New Mexico.

Ute Mountain, Wolf Moon and across the plateau to San Antonio Mountain. — Ute Mountain, Wolf Moon, and across the plateau to San Antonio Mountain.

Road to Ute Mountain with the Wolf Moon setting.

Wolf Moon across the plateau with Sunshine Valley community. — Wolf Moon across the plateau with the Sunshine Valley community.

Here’s a link to the full Wolf Moon eclipse on January 21, 2019.

As always thank you for looking in. Geraint.

Ute Mountain and the Wild Rivers Area, Winter in the Rio Grande Gorge

Geraint December 26, 2020 No Comments

More snow coming to northern New Mexico in the next few days. We’re going to head out for certain if it does. We’ll stop in here at Wild Rivers Recreation Area for a view of Ute Mountain, where the wild Rio Grande makes a nice leading line. Thanks for looking. G

Big Cloud, Ute Mountain, New Mexico

Geraint November 22, 2020 2 Comments

Big cloud over Ute Mountain, New Mexico. Ute Mountain, like its companion, San Antonio Mountain create their own weather systems. Ute Mountain and San Antonio are both free-standing, that rise to over 10,000 feet above sea level. On the plateau, they are unmistakable. Thanks for looking. G

Taos Plateau Volcanic Field, Northern New Mexico

Geraint October 20, 2020 6 Comments

Taos Plateau Volcanic Field, moon setting, northern New Mexico. From left to right, Cerro Chiflo, Cerro de la Olla, Ute Mountain, San Antonio Mountain. The road heads west across the plateau, over the Rio Grande, with the waxing moon, and beyond into the sunset. Thanks for looking. G

Ute Mountain, Red Barn, Crescent Moon, Colorado

Geraint October 19, 2020 6 Comments

Ute Mountain with the red barn and crescent moon in the San Luis Valley, Colorado. I headed north to the state line and into Colorado yesterday evening. The sun and moon were setting as I drove forty-five minutes for a shoot at the dilapidated barn. Flocks of crows went where ever crows go at night and owls took up their nightly vigil in the cottonwood snags. The holes in the barn let the dusk and moonlight in. A few stray critters dodged my tires as I ran over their tracks in the twilight. Thanks for looking. G

Lone Tree, Ute Mountain, San Luis Valley

Geraint September 21, 2020 No Comments

Lone tree with Ute Mountain in the vast San Luis Valley, Colorado. I can’t pass up a lone tree. I keep a folder full on my phone for future photo prospects when the elements come together. I like the animal track, probably a coyote who frequents the nearby hamlet of Mesita, Colorado. Thanks for looking. G

Ute Mountain Road, Northern New Mexico

Geraint June 27, 2020 6 Comments

Ute Mountain Road, Northern New Mexico. I pulled over here a couple of evenings ago for a cup of tea and to watch the rain move through the area after a day on the road photographing around northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. It was a beautiful day that ended nicely. Thanks to my friend Larry and thank you for looking. G

San Luis Valley Homestead, Colorado

Geraint May 28, 2020 4 Comments

San Luis Valley homestead, Colorado. A former family home on the plateau long ago deserted, currently frequented by scavengers who steal the copper wiring from the power lines and dwelling. The current owner allowed me access to the property but warned me of snakes. Consider me warned! It’s a lovely stop on my San Luis Valley photo tour, to learn the history and make some images, while pondering a bygone era. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Ute Mountain